Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying issued a stern warning to the new White House administration that Washington "is not a party to the South China Sea dispute," even though the US Navy maintains a significant presence in the global trade hub.
To safeguard the security and economic and trade interests of all nations in the South China Sea, China and the US should follow the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, which stipulates in Article 4 and Article 6 that disputes over territorial and jurisdictional claims should be settled by peaceful means. Joint development, sharing resources and safeguarding human peace and development must be carried out in line with the UN Charter’s goal of "One human family". See the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development
